A place to chat ‘one to one’ with other Silversurfers community members. If you wish you can add other members to your chat for a lively discussion amongst the safe environment of the Silversurfers community.

10 surprising things you can clean in the dishwasher

For anyone who has one, the dishwasher is an essential part of their kitchen and has removed the monotony of cleaning dishes, cups and glasses, giving you time to relax instead of slogging over the sink.

While this is great, it needn’t stop there and you may be surprised by how versatile your dishwasher can be. So here are ten unexpected things you can clean in your dishwasher which will expand your free time even further!

Children’s Toys

Chewed, covered in food or rolled across the floor, your grandchild’s favourite toys can pick up dirt from just about anywhere. Plastic toys like lego wash especially well in a dishwasher – just put smaller pieces in the cutlery tray to ensure they don’t get lost.

Sponges

A sponge’s damp surface is the perfect way for nasty bacteria to develop and as easy as it is to throw them out and buy a new set, the heat of the dishwasher will kill off any unwanted guests, saving you from buying more too often.

Extractor fan filter

Recommended to be taken down and cleaned every couple of months. The inevitable build-up of grease can be a messy job to clean however the high temperature of your dishwasher coupled with a strong powder should remove most of the grease leaving you very little to rinse off in your sink.

Parts of your kitchen appliances

From the knobs and burners on your range, microwave trays and even the plugs from your sinks, a lot of the small parts of your kitchen can be safely and easily cleaned and can make a real difference in giving your kitchen a shine.

Bathroom items

Toothbrush holders, soap dishes, shower racks and the rest of your bathroom items can be a pain to scrub clean but a quick run through your dishwasher will have them sparkling in no time.

Wellington Boots

Dirty wellies can be a pain to clean and very rarely look brand new after a few trips out in the rain but you may be surprised by the results after you put them through your washer. You’re best to remove any lining and insoles before so you’re not waiting too long for them to dry.

Fruit and Vegetables

Throwing your fruit and veg in your dishwasher may seem like a recipe for disaster but it’s a simple and effective way of batch cleaning them all at once. Packing all available space, so there’s no movement and using no detergent and on a cold rinse and you’ll be amazed at how well your veggies come up. It saves a lot of water that you would use cleaning them under the tap so it’s great for the environment too!

Car parts

You’ll still need to go to the carwash for the most part but your hub caps, tire covers and floor mats can easily be put through your dishwasher.

Tools

Check that they are rust-free and without wooden handles before you begin, but most tools including the ones used for gardening can really benefit from a spin through the dishwasher. Many of these tools will have been in contact with dirt and pesticides, so don’t wash them without any other dishes and also run a sanitising cycle before you clean anything else.

Hats and caps

Brimmed hats and sports caps are notoriously difficult to wash because of their shape. A dishwasher can help with that, though it’s best to use something milder than your standard washing liquid.

Rachel - Silversurfers Assistant Editor

Hello there! I’m Rachel and I’m the Assistant Editor for Silversurfers. I work behind the scenes to bring interesting, informative and entertaining subject matter to the Silversurfers community. I hope you enjoy the features we have shared with you. Please feel free to comment below and share your thoughts with us, we love to hear from you!

I think you should point out, I once jokingly put a comment of facebook group about cleaning the toilet brushes in the dishwasher. The reaction was akin to having said I put fluffy white kittens in there too !!! Best not to put your loo brushes in !!! ( I dont, by the way, it was a joke question !!!)

Community Terms & Conditions

Content standards

These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

Contributions must:

be accurate (where they state facts);
be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and
comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

Contributions must not:

contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or
contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or
promote sexually explicit material; or
promote violence;
promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or
infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or
be likely to deceive any person; or
be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or
promote any illegal activity; or
be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or
be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or
be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or
give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or
advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

Nurturing a safe environment

Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.

We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!